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Back-to-School Cybersecurity: What to Watch Out For (and How to Stay Safe)

As families, students, and schools gear up for a new school year, cybercriminals gear up too. Below is a concise, practical guide from Arkadian Cybersecurity to help you avoid the most common back-to-school traps—and what to do if something goes wrong.

✅ 1. Shopping scams: fake stores, too-good-to-be-true deals, counterfeit supplies

• Verify the seller before you buy (search the store name + “scam”/“fraud”). Consumer Advice
• Prefer credit cards for online purchases; they offer stronger dispute rights than debit, gift cards, or wire. Consumer Advice
• Be extra cautious with social ads and “pop-up” coupon sites; navigate to the retailer directly instead of clicking the ad.

✅ 2. Textbook & dorm rental scams (college students)

• Rental listings: never pay deposits or application fees before you see the place or verify the lister; watch for copied photos/descriptions and pressure to pay immediately. Federal Bureau of InvestigationMass.gov
• Textbooks/marketplaces: avoid sellers who push you to pay outside the platform or won’t use traceable payments.

✅ 3. Financial-aid, scholarship, and student-loan imposters

• Legit financial aid doesn’t charge “processing fees.”
• Never share your FSA ID with any company—treat it like a password. Go directly to StudentAid.gov for programs/changes. Consumer Advice

✅ 4. Phishing—now with QR codes (“quishing”)

• Crooks increasingly hide malicious links in QR codes on flyers, parking meters, and emails. Verify the source, and preview the URL after scanning before you tap. HHS.gov
• Report phishing to CISA/IC3; quick reporting helps limit harm. CISA

✅ 5. Account takeovers via SIM-swap/port-out fraud

• A criminal convinces your carrier to move your number to their SIM, intercepting your MFA codes. Ask your carrier for port-out/SIM-swap protection, and use app-based authenticators/passkeys instead of SMS when possible. Federal Communications Commission

✅ 6. Imposters & tech support scams

• Government/school/tech-support imposters are surging; losses are massive year over year. Be wary of urgent calls/chats asking for remote access or payment. Federal Bureau of Investigation

Your Back-to-School Security Checklist

For families & students

• MFA everywhere: Enable a non-SMS factor (authenticator app or passkey) on email, school portals, banking, cloud storage. CISA
• Strong, unique passwords via a password manager.
• Update & back up: Turn on auto-updates for OS/apps; enable iCloud/OneDrive/Google backups.
• Lock-down devices: Screen lock + auto-lock; disable Bluetooth/NFC when not needed.
• Safer Wi-Fi: Use official campus SSIDs; avoid “free campus Wi-Fi” look-alikes; consider a reputable VPN on untrusted networks.
• Think before you post: Avoid sharing move-in dates, dorm numbers, and travel details publicly.
• Payments: Prefer credit cards; never pay with gift cards, crypto, or wires for consumer purchases. Consumer Advice
• Report & recover fast (save this):
  • Bank/credit card: dispute/freeze.
  • Mobile carrier: lock number/enable port-out protection (for SIM-swap). Federal Communications Commission
  • File a complaint with IC3; notify school IT if your school account was involved; contact CISA for significant incidents. Federal Bureau of InvestigationCISA

For school admins & small edu nonprofits

• Phishing-first defense: short, high-frequency awareness nudges + simulated phishing focused on parent-portal, tuition, “policy update,” and MFA-reset lures. CISA
• Email security: DMARC/DKIM/SPF enforcement; block look-alike domains; attachment & URL rewriting.
• Access hardening: SSO + phishing-resistant MFA; privileged access reviews before school starts.
• Device posture: MDM (Intune/Apple School Manager/Google Admin), OS baseline policies, disk encryption, app allow-listing.
• Backups & recovery: immutable/cloud + offline copies; test restores; incident runbooks posted where staff can find them.
• Vendor & volunteer access: least-privilege, time-bound accounts, mandatory MFA.

Spot-the-phish (use this with staff & students)

1. Urgency: “Act in 2 hours to keep your class spot.”
2. MFA/credential reset links in unsolicited emails/texts.
3. Payment method switch to gift cards, crypto, or wire. Consumer Advice
4. QR codes posted in public spaces for “financial aid” or “textbooks.” HHS.gov

If you’ve already clicked or paid

1. Disconnect and update the device, run a reputable AV/EDR scan, and change passwords.
2. Call your bank/card, start a chargeback (credit cards are best for this). Consumer Advice
3. Carrier: request SIM-swap/port-out lock if you saw suspicious phone behavior. Federal Communications Commission
4. Report to IC3 (internet crime), and escalate to your school IT/security. Federal Bureau of Investigation

How Arkadian Cybersecurity can help (fast)

• Back-to-School Security Tune-Up (45–60 min): account hardening, MFA/passkey setup, password manager rollout, and quick device policy checks.
• School/Nonprofit Package: phishing-resistant MFA roll-out, email security controls, baseline hardening/MDM templates, and a 1-page incident playbook for faculty.
• Awareness micro-training: 10-minute sessions and ready-to-print “Spot-the-Phish” posters.